Samoa

In his opening remarks, Tonga interim Prime Minister and chair of the 7^th PLG, ‘Akilisi Pohiva reminded the meeting to pursue firm and action-oriented decisions and platforms for partnerships.

Pohiva said Polynesia is the smallest in development yet the largest in the world in the oceans they occupy.

“In our annual meeting we are reminded to pursue the uniqueness of Polynesia’s sustained heritage, culture, traditional knowledge and information of which we have the privilege of diversity and continuity in maintaining our sovereign states.”

Speaking to journalists ahead of the meeting in Apia Saturday, the incoming chair of the 48th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Summit said: “By the sheer fact of our geography, such as trends associated with shifts in the centres of global power, this places the Pacific at the centre of contemporary global geopolitics.”

Samoa’s capital is getting ready for the 48th Pacific Islands Forum.

The theme of the annual regional gathering is The Blue Pacific – Our Sea of Islands. The meeting will highlight the oceans, climate change and resource management, from tuna fisheries to deep seabed mining.

Speaking to journalists before the meeting yesterday, Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said: “By the sheer fact of our geography, such as trends associated with shifts in the centres of global power, this places the Pacific at the centre of contemporary global geopolitics.”

The Pacific Games Council announced yesterday afternoon that Samoa was the only bid that met all the criteria.

Tuilaepa says Samoa already has the facilities which were modernized as late as 2015.

He adds there are funds for new additions that may be required.

“In any case the arrangements we have made for this meeting (Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit) particularly all the arrangements of welcoming of delegates etc are all part and parcel of our preparations of the Pacific Games,” Tuilaepa said.

Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi says he is looking forward to meeting Governor Lolo of American Samoa to clarify any outstanding issues the American territory may have about the project

In his weekly news brief program with Talamua.com yesterday, Tuilaepa said American Samoa Government Lolo Lutali Moliga has requested a sit down meeting between the two leaders to discuss the outstanding issue during the Pacific Forum Leaders meeting in Apia next week.

The appointment was announced by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sai’lele Malielegaoi at the TATTE conference this morning.

The new minister succeeds Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt who resigned from the ministerial portfolio a week ago.

Laauli has been charged with obtaining money by deception and is scheduled to appear in court next month.

Photo file Samoa Times. Caption: Lopaoo Tanielu Mua is the new Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries 

The announcement by the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi is scheduled for today at the TATTE Conference.

Up until the close of government business yesterday, the Prime Minister did not give out any hints on who will succeed former Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Laaulialemalietoa resigned this month to await the outcome of a criminal charge of deception filed against him.

The suspect was apprehended during the execution of a search warrant of illicit drugs last Friday.

Police said during the search, they seized plastic bags of suspected methamphetamine, marijuana seeds and leaves, cash in Samoan tala and a smoking pipe (utensil).

The suspect has been remanded in custody and will appear before the court on 11 September 2017 for mention.

Police investigations are continuing.

This particular phase will last for about a month and is significant for two reasons.

Without evidence to the contrary, it is the first time that a Pacific nation has invited the general public to participate in an investigation into a systemic human rights problem.

It is also the first Inquiry launched by the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) since its birth in 2013 when parliament amended the Komesina o Sulufaiga (Ombudsman) Act 1988 with the mandate to inquire into widespread and systemic human rights violation.

With the support of the Samoa One-UN Youth Employment Programme Samoa 1UN YEP) on 19 August 2017, WIBDI inaugurated its new processing facility at Nu’u fitted out with new modern food processing equipment, laboratory, cooling rooms and office facilities.

The project is funded by the United Nations Development Programme Sustainable Development Goals Trust Fund.

WIBDI is a well-established, multi-award winning NGO that specializes in organic agriculture and employment of youth and women in the farm-to-table value chain for both domestic and international markets.